Steve Buscemi portrays a powerful politico and gangster named Nucky Thompson in HBO's new series Boardwalk Empire. To mark the show's premiere, TIME takes a look at other Mob bosses who have reigned on American television and movie screens

Nino Brown

By Frances RomeroFriday, Sept. 17, 2010

Wesley Snipes starred as drug dealer and crime lord Nino Brown in the 1991 film New Jack City. The movie told the story of Nino's gang, the CMB, or the Cash Money Brothers, who make a fortune dealing crack cocaine in 1980s New York City. They even take over an entire apartment complex and dub it "the Carter." But one detective, played by Ice-T, is intent on busting Nino and bringing down the CMB. Nino is eventually brought to justice, but not before delivering one heck of a "don't-blame-this-drug-epidemic-on-me" speech. This is Snipes in his prime.